Electrical-switch.



A. J. GIPFORD. ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

APPLICATION IILBD HAR. 5, 1909. l 1,029,676. Patented June 18,1912.

a SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Zn venta/1 1km/Mi l1 SWW A. J. GIPPORD.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

' APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 5, 1909.

Patented June 18, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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A. J. GIFFORD.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED 11,111.5, 1909.

1,029,676. Patented June 18, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Jia/. fa/i ALBERT J. cirronn, or woncnsrnmmessacnusnrrs, AssIGNonro wus.mammina f COMPANY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A FIRM.

ELECTRICAL swrrcn.

To all whom it' may concern: 1

Be it known that II, ALBERT J. GIFFoRD, a citizen yof the United States,residing at Worcester, in the countyof Worcester and StateofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Electrical Switch, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relatesto a switch capable of connecting two batteries orother sources of power with an instrument to be operated by the same,such for example as in cases where a spark coil is to be operatedsometimes by a battery and sometimes by high or low tension magneto orby two different batteries.

The principal objects ofthe invention are tov lprovide a simple andinexpensive coning drawings in whichstruction having few parts, andpreferably only two moving parts, which can be used 'efliciently forconnecting either a battery or high tension magneto with a spark coiland which by a very simple change can be converted into a switch for twobatteries or for a battery and low tension magneto or for equivalentpurposes; to provide a switch capable of general use for connecting aninstrument with two sources of power and one capable of being changed ina very simple manner so as to be used for two different purposes; and toprovide improvements in certain details of electrical swltches.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Referencev is to be had to the accompany- Figure 1 is a front elevationof a switch embodying this linvention broken` away to show interiorconstruction. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of' the same. Fig 3 is a bottomplan viewthereof. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of FigA 2.Fig. v5 is a front' view of `the oscillatable contacting member which isturned to o erate the switch. Fig. 6 is an end view o the same. Figs. 7and '8 are sectional views on the lines 7-'7 and 8'8 respectively ofFig. 5. Fig 9 is a side view of one of the clips employed. Fig. 10 is arear elevation similar/ to Fig. 2 showing the .devices connected up -ina different manner for use for another purpose.' Fig. 1'1 is a side viewof the clip which is used in Fig. 10. Figs. 12, 13 and 14 arediagrammatic bottom plan views indicating diierent ositions of theoscillating member and han' le. Figs. 15, 15, 16, 17,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application'lled larok 5, 1909. Serial No. 481,466.

- Patented June 18, 1912.

17" and 18 are diagrammatic views showmg how thecontacts-are made andshowing the' parts in several positions. -"Figs. 19 an 20 arediagrammatic rear views of the complete switch asV connected u fortwopsets of batteries or a battery'and ow tension mag'- neto. Figs. 21and 22 are similarviews showing the connections for the high ten'- s1 onmagneto and battery, andA Fig. 23 is a diagrammatic view with the 'parts1n the position shown in Fig. 21.Y

The switch is shown as comprising a block or casing 10 formed ofinsulating material, as for example, hard rubber cut,

formed, or molded into shape and providing a. support for the remainderof the mechanism. M ounted to oscillate on an axis 1n an opemngorpassage in this block is a shaft 1-1 with which is connected a' handlel2 projecting'at the bottom' from the device and serving to turn theshaft and to indicate the position-in which it is located. Held on thisshaft by a removable p1n` 8 is a Asleeve 9 which constitutes a mov ablecontacting member having the conducting surfaces shown in the form ofcams 130 and 140 and a toothed segment 150 at the rear,and two cams 13and 14 and a toothed segment 15 at the front. Secured on the casing orblock are spring clips constituting contact members 16, 17 and 18. Eachof the clips 1 6 and 17 is shown as consisting of a flat piece .of sheetcopper or brass doubled back at the end and secured to the block bymeans of a screw or the-like and lying on a ledge and projecting overthe movable member or sleeve 9. The end of each clip which projects overthe sleeve preferably is doubled at the free end so that most of theflexure will take place near the .screw which goes through it Yto holdit. It'

fastened on the wall of a spark coil box or projection 21 and it isshown as double at its free end,the screw passing through the in Fig. 2are a pair of clips 23 and 24. rIhe clip 23, as the parts are arrangedir. Fig. 2, is in electrical Contact with the clip 18 and it isseparated from the clip 24 by a space in which is located a metal plug25. rIhis arrangement isl for the connection of two batteries or abattery land low tension magneto with the spark coil.

' In the form shown in Fig. 10`the parts 11, 16, 18, 24 and 25 are/thesame as above except that the sleeve 9 is turned the other side aroundor reversed on the shaft so as to bring the parts 130, 140 and 150 infront. In place of the clip 23 is a smaller clip 26 Which is designedto. connect with the clip 24 by the plug and is insulated from the clip18 o-n account of being too short to reach it. In place of the clip 17is a clip 27 which is very similar to the clip 17 but extends farther tothe left and is provided with a non-conducting projection 28 with whichthe plug 25 is adapted to come into contact under certain conditions.

The operation of the device will be described with particular referenceto the diagrammatic views of the second sheet, reference first being hadto Figs. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19 and 20 which correspond with Figs. 1, 2,3 and 4 of Sheet 1. It will `be seen that the clip .16 is shown asconnected up with one set of batteries and the clip 17 with another. Forone of these batteries may be substituted a low tension magneto. Theclip 24 is":connected to the common primary terminal ofthe vspark coil.As above explained the clips 18 and 23 are connected with each other.Now when the handle l12 is in the position shown in Fig. 12 the cams 130and 140-will be in the position shown in Fig. 15, these two cams beingrepresented as side by side in this figure for convenience. In thisvcase the cam 130 projects up into contact with the clip 16 so that theiirst battery 3 0 is connected through the clip 16 with the sleevev 9then through the clip 18 with the clip 23 so that when the plug 25 isinserted there will be a through connection through the plug and clip 24to thecommon primary terminal of the spark coil back through the primaryand commutator to the ground. At the same time the 'cam 140 is turned sothe cam 130 being outof contact with its clip so that the battery 30 isdisconnected, and the cam 140 being in contact with the clip 17 so thatthe battery 31 is connected.

This connection is through the same path as described above, as shown inFig. 20. It will be seen, therefore, that with this set of connectionsit is a very easy matter to change from one battery to the other or fromthe battery to'the low tension magneto or vice versa or to a neutralposition in which both batteries or battery and magneto are thrown outof circuit,and that in any position the removal of the plug will renderall connections impossible.

When it is desired to 'use this switch for a highI tension magneto andbattery, only very simple changes are required. In the rst place theclip 26 is substituted for the clip23 so that it Will be insulated fromthe clip 18. The clip 27 is substituted for the clip 17 and the sleeve 9is given a half turn on the shaft. This set of connections is shown inFigs 10, 21, 22 and 23. In the position of the parts indicated in Fig.17, it being remembered that the sleeve is now reversed, the handle willbe in the position shown in Fig. 12 but in this position the cams 13 and14 contact with the clips 16 and 27, respectively. The clip 16 isconnected with the battery and the clip 27 with the magneto. Now in thisposition of the parts the current from the battery will come through theclip-16, sleeve 9, clip 18 to the ground through the commutator, backthrough the primary winding of the spark coil to the clip 26 with whichthe latter is connected' and then, if the plug 25 is in, through theclip 24 which is now connected with the other terminal of the battery as`indicated in Fig. 21.- 'The connection from the high tension magneto isthrough the clip 27,

sleeve 9 and clip 18 to the ground. Therefore, with this state ofaffairs, as long as the handle is in the position shown in Fig. 12, thebattery Will be operative and the magneto inoperative because when theplug is in. But as soon as the plug is withdrawn, this of courseinterrupts the battery circuit. Byturning the handle to the neutralposit-ion Figs. 13 and 17a the cam 13 will be brought out of contactwith its clip and the cam 14 will remain in contact with the clip 27 andhold it grounded' -tive.

out of reach of the plug, so that irrespective of the position of theplug 25 the magneto and battery are inoperative so that the machine cannot be started by use of the plug alone. In the position indicated inFig. 22 with the handle in the position shown in Fig. 14 the cam 13 isout of contactwith its clip, but the cam 14C is in contact normally whenthe plug is out, as shown in dotted lines in F 18, which renders bothbattery and magneto inoperative but when the plug 25 is in position itengages the insulating projection 28 of the clip 27 and holds the latterup as shown in full lines in Fig. 18 away from the cam 14 so as toprevent the magneto from being grounded and consequently hold it opera-It will be seen therefore, that means is provided whereby theconnections can be made in two ways with very simple changes. At the.same time thc clips or terminals are of very simple and eifectiveconstruction so that a mere clamping of the box or casing on the wall ofthe spark coil casing in proper position results in making the necesSaryconnections, yet at the same time if it is desired to connect by meansof Wires, the casing is provided with perforations 40 through which thewires can pass and be connected under the clips where they are screwedto the insulating block or casing. The use of the insulating knob 28 isan improvement over those constructions in which metallic parts areemployed for making land breaking contacts becausev there is less dangerof short circuiting. It is to be observed that the casing 10 has arecess or passage bounded by slanting walls 41 in which the end of thehandle 12 is located so that in its two eXtreme positions the handlecomes against these walls, which receive the blow and thus take thestrain oft' the shaft 11 and other connections. This is advantageousbecause this handle is generally operated by the foot and is liable tobe thrownover quickly.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of theinvention and shown two applications thereof, I am aware that it can beapplied to the other `purposes for making electrical connections andthat many modifications can be made in the con-` struction andarrangement vof the parts without departing from the scope of theinvention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to belimited to all the details of construction shown and described, but

What I do claim is 1. In an electrical switch, the combinationl of aninsulating casing having a ledge thereon at a distance inside itssurface, a plurality of metallic clips secured to said ledge andprojecting inwardly from it in the same plane, said casing having anopening at the end of the ledge, an oscillatable member mounted on thecasing in said opening and having eccentric surfaces at diiferent pointstherealong adapted to engage said clips in certain positions of theoscillatable member, a handlei said member for turning it, and integralmeans'on the casing for limiting the turning motion of said member totwo positions in one of which one clip is in contact with one of saideccentric surfaces, and in the other another clip is in contact withanother.

2. In an electrical switch, the combination of a movable member, twometallic cllps projecting toward the movable member, said movable memberhaving conducting surfaces thereon in one of them will engage one of theclips when the movable member is moved to one position, and the otherwill engage the other clip when the movable member is moved to a secondposition, a third metallic clip constantly in engagement with themovable member in all positions thereof, another pair of clips on thecasing separated from each other, and a movable conducting plug towardthe movable member, said movable* member having conducting surfacesthereon in such position that one of them will engage one of the clipswhen the movable member is turned to one position, and the other willengage the other clip when the movable member is turned to a'secondposition, a third metallic clip constantly in engagement with themovable member in all positions thereof, said third clip having meansfor yieldingly holding the movable member in each one of its positionsafter it is brought thereto, another pair of clips on the casingseparated from each other, and a removable conducting plug adapted to beinserted between said pair of clips.

4. In an electrical switch, the combination of a movable member, twometallic clips, said movable member being adapted tobe moved and havingconducting surfacesA thereon in such position that one of them willengage one of the clips when the moV- able member is moved to oneposition and the other will engage the other clip when the movablemember is'moved to a second position, a pair of metallic clips separatedfrom each other, means for electrically connecting one of said pair ofclips with one of the first named clips, and a conducting plug adapted'to be inserted between said pair of clips to connect them.

5. In an electrical switch, the combination of Ya casing having anopening therein, a movable member located in said opening,

two metallic clips secured to the casing and projecting into theopening,vsaid movable member being adapted to be turned on an axis andhaving conducting/surfaces thereon adapted to engage the clips when themovable member is turned to certain positions, a pair of metallic clips'mounted on the casing and separated from each other, a conducting plugadapted to be inserted into the casing to connect said .pair of clips,and means whereby when said plug is inserted into the casing to connectsaid pair of clips, and the movable member is in one position, theinsertion lof said plug will cause one of the first named clipsto bemoved posiively out of contact with the movable mem- 6. In an electricalswitch, the combination of a contact clip, a movable conducting memberadapted to engage the clip, a pair- `of contact clips, a contact plugfor connecting said pair of contact clips, and meanswhereby when themovable member is in one position the insertion of the plug to connectsaid contact clips will cause the first mentioned clip to be moved outof engagement with the movable member.

7. The combination of two conducting clips, a movable conducting memberhaving means for engaging one of said clips in .certain positionsthereof and the other in certain positions, a third clip connected withthe conducting member, an. additional pair of clips separated from eachother, and a movable plug adapted to connect said pair or clips, thepair of clips and plug being disconnected from said movable conductingmember.

8. The combination of two .conducting clips, a movable conducting memberhaving ber, of two metallic clips, said movable member being adapted tobe moved to three positions and having two conducting surfaces thereonin such position that one of them will engage one of the clips when themovable member is moved to one position, and that both will engage theirclips when the movable member is moved to a second position, ,electricalconnections connected v with the clips,"and with said movable member,and removable means for moving one of said clips out of contact with themovable member, in one position'thereof.

l l0. As an article of manufacture, an electrical contact' clip `formedof sheet metaldoubled on itself at one end, the two portions beingsecured together at a distance lfrom the end, and of a single thicknessat its opposite end in the plane of the doubled portion, and havingmeans whereby it can be held rigidly at its single end.

'In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

` ALBERT J. GIFFORD.

Witnesses ALBERT E; FAY, C. FoRREsr WEssoN;

